The Eagle Creek (lower)
watershed covers southeast Carroll County, southwest Gallatin County, and
northern Owen County, with some of western Grant County. The land is in the hills of the bluegrass subregion of the
Bluegrass physiographic region, characterized by hilly terrain, very rapid
surface runoff, and slow groundwater drainage. Parts of the watershed lie over
interbedded shales and limestones (these are 20% limestone; water conduction is
poor because of the clay content of the shale). Other areas are underlain by
interbedded limestones and shales (>20% limestone, allowing groundwater flow
where the clay content is low enough). Unconsolidated silts, sands, and gravels
occur along the flood plain of the creek.

Waterways. This watershed includes the section of Eagle Creek between
the mouth of Tenmile Creek (near Folsom in Grant County) and the confluence of
Eagle Creek with the Kentucky River southwest of Worthville at the corner of
Carroll, Owen, and Henry Counties. Among the creeks that feed it in this
watershed are Indian Camp Creek, Moseby Branch, Hodge Branch, Lost Branch, Ellis
Creek, Goose Creek, Lick Creek, Indian Creek, Buffalo Creek, and Buck Run. The
watershed also receives the water from the Eagle Creek (upper) and Tenmile Creek
watersheds.

Land and water use. Land in the watershed is almost 60% agricultural,
about 35% rural and wooded, and more than 5% residential and commercial. Three
businesses and organizations hold permits for discharges into the creeks. See
tables for details.

Agency data assessment. The nine assessed creek segments in this
watershed include two that do not support some or all of their designated uses,
based on biological and/or water-quality data. Two others only partially support
their uses. Siltation, pathogens, and alteration of flow and other stream
features contribute to the impairment of these streams. See tables for details.

Watershed rankings. The ranking formula provides a preliminary
ranking by synthesizing a broad spectrum of watershed characteristics, current
conditions, and threats. This watershed ranks in the group with the highest need
for protection and/or restoration. This rating is for the watershed on average:
particular sites and particular waters within the watershed may vary widely. See
tables for details.

Volunteer data. There is one volunteer monitoring site in the
watershed. See tables for details.

TABLES

Click here to view tables for this watershed, in PDF format. These
tables include land-use characteristics, designated uses, stream assessments,
public water supply and water withdrawal sites, permitted discharge sites,
gaging and sampling sites, volunteer data, and values for the 35 indicators used
in calculating watershed rankings. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the
tables: